Metal melting furnace



Sept 13, 1949- J. l.. sTRoMAN 2,481,699

MTAL MELTING FURNACE Filed OC. 6, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 MF A l L Sept. 13, 1949. J. LJSTROMAN v METAL MELTING FURNACE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 6, 1944 1| I l l l Il.

.7M/*llege Sept. 13,v 1949. J.`| sTRoMAN 2,431,699

METAL MELTING FURNACE Filed oct. e, 1944 s sheets-sheet s Patented Sept. 13, 1949 METAL MELTING FUBNACE Jack L. Stroman, Elmwood Park, lll., assignor to The Petersen Oven Company, Chicago. lll.. l corporation of Iliinois Application October-6, 1944, Serial No. 557,454 z claims. (c1. zee-ss) The present invention pertains to metal melting furnaces of the type including a rotary melting chamber. Furnaces of this general class, as heretofore produced, have been provided with various means and arrangements for electing discharge of the molten metal. Such prior furnace constructions generally require the services of two or more persons during the pouring operation, -and normally require two persons to support, readjust and position the ladle while the metal is being poured. Due to the peculiarities of construction of prior furnaces, the pouring stream of molten metal is always of substantial lengthresulting in substantial oxidization and loss of metal. In one type of furnace heretofore employed, the tapping port or discharge opening is provided in the side wall of the furnace, necessitating plugging and Asealing of the port during the melting operation, and unplugging or opening of the port to permit pouring of the molten metal. The operation of sealing and opening the tapping port in such furnace constructions, results in substantial loss in time.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved furnace construction of the character indicated which eliminates the foregoing disadvantages and which results in a substantial saving in time.

Another object is to provide an improved furnace construction of the character indicated comprising a rotary chamber having a discharge port at one end thereof, together with suitable mounting means by virtue of which the chamber may be tilted about a transverse horizontal axis, located ladjacent the bottom and outer end of the discharge port, to effect discharge of the molten metal.

A further object is to provide an improved furnace of the character indicated, .provided with novel mounting means which permits pouring of molten metal into a ladle disposed in a stationary position on a platform or floor, and wherein the pouring stream is of relatively short length.

Still another object is to provide a, novel mounting and force applying means for a rotary chamber type of furnace, for effecting tilting of the furnace about an axis disposed in close proximity to the pouring lip of the discharge port.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the furnace embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the furnace,

2 withparts shown in section to illustrate details of construction.

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse, vertical sectiona1 views through the furnace, taken substantially as indicated at lines 3--3 and 4 4 respectively on Figure l.

The furnace embodying |the present invention includes a rotary chamber or drum I0, supported upon a movable auxiliary frame H, Iwhich in turn is supported upon ya main frame I2. The chamber is of generally cylindrical form and is normally supported with its axis disposed in a substantially horizontal plane. The interior of the chamber is lined with a suitable refractory as indicated lat I4, and its rear end is provided with an inwardly flaring firing port opening I5. The forward end of the chamber is provided with la centrally located port opening I6, through which the furnace is charged with metal and through which the molten metal is discharged from the chamber. Provided-at the outer end of said opening I6, is a door I1, suitably hinged as shown at I8. The door is adapted to be latched in -a closed position (by means not shown) during the metal melting operation, and

. is adapted to be swung laterally to open position when the molten metal is being discharged through the port opening I6. It is to be understood that the hinge pivot I8 for the door, is so arranged that when the door isfswungv to open position it tends to remain in such position without the necessity of latching the same. The door Il includes a panel of ceramic material I9, having a. central opening 20, disposed in central axial alignment with the port opening I6, and the firing port I5. The opening 20, in the ceramic panel of the door, serves as a discharge exit for the exhaust gases from the chamber.

The rotary chamber of the furnace is vadapted to be charged with metal through the port opening I6 and when the metal is melted it assumes Fa liquid 1eve1, as indicated at A, which is slightly below the bottom of the discharge port opening I6, as may be clearly seen in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Mounted on the rear end of the main frame I2 is suitable apparatus for firing the chamber, which includes a nozzle 22, disposed in central relation to the firing port I5. The nozzle is connected to a source of forcedvair through a `pipe 23, which in turn is connected to a blower 24 of usual construction, having a fan therein, driven by an electric motor 25, mounted on the main frame. A valve 2B is interposed in the pipe 23 and is adapted to be controlled :by a handle 21 for regulating the volume of air entering the nozzle for admixture with uid fuel. Connected to the rear end of the nozzle is a nuid fuel supply pipe 29, the outer end of which is connected to a hand control valve 30, which in turn is connected to'a fuel supply pipe 3|. Thus the two valves may be so adjusted that the fuel and -air may be admixed in such proportion so as to obl tain a desired combustible mixture.

Surrounding the chamber is a.` .pair of axially spaced -apart annular tracks 35, which serve to support the chamber in a cradle comprising two sets of transversely spaced apart flanged rollers 38, engaging the respective tracks 35. The two sets of rollers on opposite sides of the chamber, are rigidly connected to longitudinal extending shafts 31, journalled in bearing brackets 38, lwhich in turn are connected to upright bracing structures 39, attached to the auxiliary frame I I. 'Ihe -auxiliary frame is made up of structural members, and is of generally rectangular form, as may be seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, and

4has mounted at the rear end thereof, beneath rthe chamber I0, an electric motor 40, operably connected to a speed reducer 4I. Mounted on the take off shaft of the reducer is a pair of sprocket wheels 42 and- 43, around which are trained. onpositely and.transversely extending drive ch'ain's arid-'45, which chains are trained at their opposite ends around sprocket wheels k4t and .41 respectively, mounted on the rear ends of said roller` .shafts 31, as'clearly seen in the drawings. Thus by virtue of the drive described, the rollers 35 are positively driven inthe same .direction for fricticnally driving the rotary chamber l0, and rotating it about its longitudinal, substantially horizontal axis, while the chamber is being fired for melting the metal.

Connected to each side ofthe forward portion of the auxiliary frame' is an upright, relatively rigid. framing structure 50, composed of beams, gusset plates and reenforcing members. upper end of each upright frame is rigidly connected to a longitudinally extending beam member I, which serves as a lever arm. The beam members 5I, by reason of the upright framing structures 50, are an integral part ofthe auxiliary frame, and because of the substantial load imposedl thereupon, including the rotary chamher and drive therefor, said beam members-are formed as reinforced relatively heavy structures each including a pair of channel members welded together, as seen in Figure 3 of the drawings. The beam members normally extend at a slightly oblique angle to horizontal as seen in Figure l of the drawings, and their forward ends are trunnioned or pivoted on the upper ends of a pair .oftransversely spaced apart upright standards 53. The standards are rigidly attached to and form a part of the main frame I2, and are disposed at opposite sides of the forward end of the rotary chamber i0. The forward ends of the 4 nism, (not shown) may be provided for controlling the operation of the rams in a manner well understood in the art.

It will be seen from Figure 1 of the drawings that the forward pivot axis of thebeams 5|, is disposed vin close proximity .to the bottom Iand outer end of the discharge port I8'. When the rams 62 are operated, force is applied in an upward direction to the rear ends of the beams 5|.

thereby raising the auxiliary frame il together with the rotary chamber I0 as a unit for tilting the same about the pivot axis of the trunnion 55, so as to disposev the chamber in a tilted position as indicated in dot and dash outline in Figure 1 ofthe drawings. y K

To take up the forward endl thrust of the chamber when disposed in a tilted position, I provide on each of the upright framing structures of the auxiliary frame, adjacent the forward end, a pair of-thrust rollers 68, supported by bearings 69, connected to the upright frames 50. The thrust rollersare disposed in engagement with an annular flange 10, surrounding the forward end of the chamber I0, so that at any tilted position of adjustment ofV the chamber, the forward end thrust is imparted directly to the rollers 68 so as to assist the anged rollers 36 in maintaining the chamber in proper position on the auxiliary frame Il. Y

As may be noted from Figure 1 of the drawings, the location of the trunnion axis about which thechamber Ill tilts, is such that the pouring lip or outer lower edge of the discharge opening I6, does not move through any appreciable distance during the pouring of the molten metal; hence it is possible to support a ladle, as indicated in dot The l to the tilting of the chamber while pouring the molten metal.

It will also be observed that by virtue of this construction the 'length of the 'pouring stream of the molten metal is reduced to a practical minimum, thereby reducing oxidization of the metal as it is being poured, and thus effecting a reduction in metal loss which results from such oxidization. It will also be noted that the chamber is so designed and dimensioned that when disposed in the tilted position as seen in Figure 1 of the drawings, it is possible to effect complete discharge of all molten metal from the chamber.

While the hydraulic rams 62 may be so constructed as to supportv the auxiliary frame and rotary chamber in their lowered position as seen in Figure 1 of the drawings, it is preferred, however, that the auxiliary framebe permitted to also rest upon a pair of'longitudinally spaced apart, transversely extending supports 12, herein shown in the form of channel members connected at opposite' ends to the sides of the main are provided with ttings 58, mounted on pivot Ipins 59 carried in clevisnttings 80. T'heiclevis `fittings '60, are connected to the upper ends of ram rods 6I, of a pair of hydraulic rams 62, the lower ends of which are pivoted at 63, in brackets 54, attached by bolts directly on the side members of the main frame i2. The rain cylinders are connected by hoses 65 to a suitable source of iiuidunder pressure; Suitable control mecha- 'It wm be apparent that any. suitable'foae applying means may be substituted for the hydraulic rams for effecting the tilting movement of the and through which exhaust gases are caused to be discharged, and through which the molten metal may be discharged, and is also applicable to furnaces of the rotary type wherein the chamber is disposed for rotation about an axis inclined slightly to horizontal such as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 557,453, filed October 6, 1944, now Patent No. 2,455,531, issued December 7, 1948.

Although I have therein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, manifestlyfit is capable of modification and rearrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to the precise form herein disclosed, except as I may be so limited by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A melting furnace comprising a stationary main frame having a lower horizontal base portion and an upright standard at one end, a movable auxiliary frame having a lower base portion supported on the base portion of the main frame,

said auxiliary frame having an upright portion,-

a metal melting chamber mounted on and movable with said auxiliary frame, said chamber being mounted with its longitudinal axis normally horizontal and being rotatable on its horizontal axis, means mounted on and carried by said auxiliary frame for rotating said chamber, the forward end of said chamber having a central reduced dimension discharge port at one end, said auxiliary frame being pivoted on a horizontal axis on the upper end of said upright standard on the main frame, said chamber being so mounted that said horizontal axis is adjacent the lower part of said discharge port, and means reacting between said main frame and auxiliary frame for tilting said auxiliary frame and thereby the chamber about `said horizontal axis, whereby the movement of said discharge port in the tilting4 operation is held at a minimum.

2. A metal melting furnace comprising, a stationary main frame having a lower horizontal base portion and an upright standard at one end, a movable auxiliary frame having a lower base portion supported on the base portion of Number said chamber having a central reduced dimension discharge port at one end, the forward end of said lever arm, and vthereby said auxiliary frame,

being pivoted on a horizontal axis on the upperl end of the upright standard on said main frame, said chamber being so mounted that said horizontal axis is adjacent the lower part of said discharge port, means reacting between' said main frame and the rear end of said lever arm for4 tilting said auxiliary frame and thereby the chamber about said horizontaly axis, whereby the movement of said discharge port in the tilting operation is held at a minimum, an end thrust ange surrounding the chamber, and thrust rollers carried on the auxiliary frame and engaging said iiange to take up end thrust of the chamber in a tilted position.

JACK L. STROMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Von Maltitz Feb. 18, Rockey et al. Apr. 1, Miller July 14, Morris et al. Mar. 4,

Number Moore Aug. 8, 1944 Young et al Dec. 19, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Da 694,151 Germany July y26, 1940 Russell Jan. 17, 1939y 

